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The old adage goes, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” which certainly applies to the NFL and its collective feeling on Baltimore Ravens 22-year old superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Despite winning the Heisman Trophy at Louisville using the same dazzling combination of athleticism and accuracy that has earned him obvious front-runner MVP status, Jacksons slipped to the 32nd and final pick of the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He had as many critics as proponents, with some even suggesting that his best shot at success against the pros would require a switch to wide receiver.

Jackson, currently tied for the NFL lead in passing touchdowns (24) and leading all rushers with nine plays of at least 20 yards, not only has silenced his critics in guiding the Ravens to a 9-2 start (including a seven-game winning streak), his stellar play has turned doubters into fans, forcing some front office executives and NFL scouts to wonder if, perhaps, strictly pocket passers could be dinosaurs as the pro game evolves.

As such, the race is on this winter to canvas the country in search of the “next Lamar.”

Blueprint or unicorn?

The frank reality is that while college football does offer some intriguing dual-threat quarterbacks, Jackson is special.

How special? Consider that despite being bigger, more elusive and more accurate on short and intermediate passes, Jackson has tirelessly been compared to Michael Vick, who entered the league when the former was just five years old. The cliché “generational talent” actually applies with these quarterbacks.

The closest comparable to either currently playing college football is Ohio State true sophomore Justin Fields, who won’t be eligible to enter the NFL draft until 2021.

But should an NFL team really be willing to commit to basing their offense around a dual-threat dynamo from this year’s draft class, these are the must-see candidates.

Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma Sooners, 6-1, 218, 4.50 40-yard dash

A legitimate Heisman candidate, Hurts is easily the most celebrated and proven of the quarterbacks on this list, starring not only for the Sooners but previously at Alabama. Though he possesses the vision and nimble feet to elude defenders, Hurts relies on his rifle for an arm and a more physical running style than either Jackson or Vick, proving more F-150 than Ferrari.

Along with his physical traits, Hurts will earn high marks with scouts for his leadership. Through 11 games, Hurts has completed 71.3 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns against just six interceptions, while rushing for another 1,156 yards and 17 scores.

Khalil Tate, Arizona Wildcats, 6-1, 215, 4.60

Like Hurts, Tate is a such a gifted athlete that many have already pegged him as a candidate to switch positions in the NFL. His vision, lateral agility and burst could draw looks at running back, or depending on his ball-skills, either wide receiver or safety. Tate currently has 2,207 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns to his credit, including a spectacular 2017 when the then-sophomore averaged an eye-popping 9.2 yards per carry for a total of 1,411 yards and 12 scores.

Unlike some of the others on this list, however, Tate has not improved his accuracy with experience, completing just 60.4 percent of his passes this season with a disappointing 12-8 TD to INT ratio through 10 starts.

Tyler Huntley, Utah Utes, 6-1, 215, 4.60

The fastest-rising dual-threat passer in the country this year is Huntley, who quietly has made significant strides in his accuracy while guiding the Utes to their second consecutive Pac-12 title game and a potential College Football Playoff berth.

Huntley sports a shorter, squattier frame than Jackson and is more of a scrambler than a true breakaway threat. He currently has 1,084 rushing yards on his resumé along with 16 touchdowns, and has shown much better precision and poise from the pocket this year, especially on the critical intermediate passes that have helped Jackson distinguish himself from Vick.

Bryce Perkins, Virginia Cavaliers, 6-2, 215, 4.55

From a size and style perspective, Perkins may be the closest comparable to Jackson. Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall recognizes the unique versatility Perkins provides, incorporating plenty of read-option and designed runs for the fleet-footed quarterback, as well as passes to all levels of the field.

While talented, Perkins remains quite raw as a passer, too often throwing off his back foot and spraying the ball. The Arizona State transfer flashed as a junior, completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 2,680 yards and an impressive 25 touchdowns against just eight interceptions but has failed to build upon these numbers in 2019, watching his touchdowns (15) drop along with his yards per attempt.

He doesn’t have the same make-you-miss that Jackson possesses – frankly, no one does – but is a decisive runner with smooth acceleration, as his 1,446 rushing yards and 18 scores in just under two seasons for the Cavaliers prove.

Kelly Bryant, Missouri Tigers, 6-3, 225, 4.70

After being sandwiched between Deshaun Watson and projected future first-round pick Trevor Lawrence at Clemson, Bryant has relied more upon his arm than legs at Missouri, throwing for a career-high 15 touchdowns against just six interceptions while rushing for just 242 yards and a single score during a disappointing and injury-plagued season.

Scouts who remember him at Clemson, however, will recall that Bryant can be very effective on the ground, as well. He ran for 665 yards and 11 scores in 14 starts in 2017 and possesses the size, arm talent and name recognition to warrant an invite to a senior all-star game where his dual-threat talents might be put more on display.

(Rob Rang’s NFL draft analysis has been featured on various national media platforms, including CBS, FOX, YAHOO! and NFL.com since 2001)

–Rob Rang (@RobRang), Field Level Media